Display panel with touch detection function, drive circuit, and electronic unit

ABSTRACT

There are provided a display panel with a touch detection function, a drive circuit, and an electronic unit, which make it possible to realize many functions related to touch detection. The display panel includes: one or more display elements; one or more drive electrodes extending in one direction; an electrode drive section integrated into a chip, and applying a drive signal to the drive electrodes; and one or more touch detection electrodes extending in a direction intersecting the direction in which the drive electrodes extend.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation of application Ser. No.16/025,368, filed Jul. 2, 2018, which is a Continuation of applicationSer. No. 15/818,411, filed Nov. 20, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,042,454,issued Aug. 7, 2018, which is a Continuation of application Ser. No.13/420,669, filed Mar. 15, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,851,824, issuedDec. 26, 2017, and claims priority from Japanese Application No.2011-089430, filed on Apr. 13, 2011, the contents of which areincorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a display panel with a touch detectionfunction which detects a touch event by an external proximity object, adrive circuit thereof, and an electronic unit having such a displaypanel with a touch detection function.

In recent years, attention has been given to a display panel configuredby mounting a contact sensing device, a so-called touch panel, on adisplay such as a liquid crystal display or the like, or integrating thetouch panel and the display, thereby causing the display to displayvarious button images and the like to enable information input, in placeof ordinary mechanical buttons. The display panel having such a touchpanel is allowed not to have an input device such as a keyboard, amouse, or a keypad and therefore, there is a growing trend to use thedisplay panel in a portable information terminal such as a portabletelephone, in addition to a computer.

There are some types of the touch panel, including an optical type, aresistive type, and a capacitance type. For example, Japanese UnexaminedPatent Application Publication No. 2009-258182 has proposed a so-calledin-cell type display panel with a touch detection function. According tothis document, in a capacitance-type touch panel, a common electrode fordisplay originally provided in a display is used as one of a pair oftouch sensor electrodes, and the other (a touch detection electrode) isdisposed to intersect this common electrode. In this display panel witha touch detection function, an AC signal applied to this commonelectrode is transmitted to the touch detection electrode via acapacitance between the common electrode and the touch detectionelectrode. Then, a touch event is detected based on a detection signaloutputted from the touch detection electrode. A drive circuit thatperforms driving by applying this AC signal to the common electrode isformed on a TFT board made of glass or the like.

SUMMARY

Incidentally, it has been desired that such a display panel with a touchdetection function have more functions related to touch detection.However, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2009-258182 provides no specific description about an attempt to achievemultifunctionality.

In view of the foregoing, it is desirable to provide a display panelwith a touch detection function, a drive circuit, and an electronicunit, which make it possible to realize many functions related to touchdetection.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provideda first display panel with a touch detection function, the first displaypanel including one or more display elements; one or more driveelectrodes extending in one direction; an electrode drive sectionintegrated into a chip, and applying a drive signal to the driveelectrodes; and one or more touch detection electrodes extending in adirection intersecting the direction in which the drive electrodesextend.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there isprovided a second display panel with a touch detection function, thesecond display panel including one or more display elements; one or moretouch detection elements, and a drive section integrated into a chip,and driving the one or more touch detection elements.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there isprovided a drive circuit including a display drive section driving oneor more display elements; and an electrode drive section integrated intoa chip, and applying a drive signal to one or more drive electrodes thatextend in a direction intersecting a direction in which one or moretouch detection electrodes extend.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there isprovided an electronic unit including the display panel with a touchdetection function and a control section performing operation controlusing the display panel, the display panel including: one or moredisplay elements; one or more drive electrodes extending in a direction;an electrode drive section integrated into a chip, and applying a drivesignal to the drive electrodes; and one or more touch detectionelectrodes extending in a direction intersecting the direction in whichthe drive electrodes extend. For example, a television receiver, adigital camera, a personal computer, a video camera, a portable terminaldevice such as a portable telephone, or the like corresponds to thiselectronic unit.

In the first and second display panels, the drive circuit, and theelectronic unit according to the above-described embodiments of thepresent disclosure, the drive signal is applied to the drive electrodeby the electrode drive section, and a detection signal according to thedrive signal is outputted from the touch detection electrode. Thiselectrode drive section is integrated into the chip.

According to the first and second display panels, the drive circuit, andthe electronic unit in the above-described embodiments of the presentdisclosure, the electrode drive section is integrated into the chip andthus, it is possible to realize many functions related to touchdetection.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended toprovide further explanation of the technology as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitutea part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments and,together with the specification, serve to explain the principles of thetechnology.

Parts (A) and (B) of FIG. 1 are diagrams for explaining a basicprinciple of a touch detection scheme in a display panel with a touchdetection function according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,and illustrate a state in which there is no touch or approach of afinger.

Parts (A) and (B) of FIG. 2 are diagrams for explaining the basicprinciple of the touch detection scheme in the display panel with atouch detection function according to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure, and illustrate a state in which there is a touch or anapproach of the finger.

Parts (A) and (B) of FIG. 3 are diagrams for explaining the basicprinciple of the touch detection scheme in the display panel with atouch detection function according to the embodiment of the presentdisclosure, and illustrate an example of a waveform of a drive signaland an example of a waveform of a touch detection signal, respectively.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of adisplay panel with a touch detection function according to an embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating a schematic sectionalstructure of a display device with a touch detection functionillustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram illustrating a pixel arrangement in thedisplay device with a touch detection function illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a perspective diagram illustrating a configuration example ofdrive electrodes and touch detection electrodes in the display devicewith a touch detection function illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIGS. 8A to 8C are schematic diagrams illustrating an operation exampleof touch detection scanning in the display panel with a touch detectionfunction illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an implementation example ofthe display panel with a touch detection function illustrated in FIG. 4.

Parts (A) to (H) of FIG. 10 are timing waveform charts illustrating anoperation example of the display panel with a touch detection functionillustrated in FIG. 4.

Parts (A) to (D) of FIG. 11 are timing waveform charts illustrating anexample of touch detection operation in the display panel with a touchdetection function illustrated in FIG. 4.

Parts (A) to (D) of FIG. 12 are timing waveform charts illustratinganother example of the touch detection operation in the display panelwith a touch detection function illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIGS. 13A to 13C are explanatory diagrams each illustrating an exampleof power supply control in the display panel with a touch detectionfunction illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are schematic diagrams each illustrating animplementation example of the display panel with a touch detectionfunction.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of adisplay panel with a touch detection function according to amodification of the embodiment.

FIGS. 16A to 16C are schematic diagrams illustrating an operationexample of touch detection scanning in a display panel a touch detectionfunction according to another modification of the embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram illustrating an implementation example ofa display panel with a touch detection function according to stillanother modification of the embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of anappearance of an application example 1, among display panels eachprovided with a touch detection function, to which the embodiment isapplied.

FIGS. 19A and 19B are perspective views each illustrating aconfiguration of an appearance of an application example 2.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of anappearance of an application example 3.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of anappearance of an application example 4.

FIGS. 22A to 22G are front views, side views, a top view, and a bottomview each illustrating a configuration of an appearance of anapplication example 5.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating a schematic sectionalstructure of a display device with a touch detection function accordingto a modification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT

An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below indetail with reference to the drawings. Incidentally, the descriptionwill be provided in the following order.

1. Basic Principle of Capacitance-Type Touch Detection 2. Embodiment 3.Application Examples 1. BASIC PRINCIPLE OF CAPACITANCE-TYPE TOUCHDETECTION

At first, with reference to Parts (A) and (B) of each of FIG. 1 to FIG.3, there will be described a basic principle of touch detection in adisplay panel with a touch detection function according to an embodimentof the present disclosure. This touch detection scheme is embodied as acapacitance-type touch sensor, and forms a capacitive element by using,as illustrated in, for example, Part (A) of FIG. 1, a pair of opposedelectrodes (a drive electrode E1 and a touch detection electrode E2)with a dielectric body D in between. This structure is expressed as anequivalent circuit illustrated in Part (B) of FIG. 1. A capacitiveelement C1 is configured by using the drive electrode E1, the touchdetection electrode E2, and the dielectric body D. Of the capacitiveelement C1, one end is connected to an AC-signal source (drive signalsource) S, and the other end P is grounded via a resistor R and alsoconnected to a voltage detector (touch detection circuit) DET. When anAC rectangular wave Sg (Part (B) of FIG. 3) of a predetermined frequency(for example, around several kHz to tens kHz) is applied to the driveelectrode E1 (the one end of the capacitive element C1) from theAC-signal source S, an output waveform (a touch detection signal Vdet)as illustrated in Part (A) of FIG. 3 appears in the touch detectionelectrode E2 (the other end P of the capacitive element C1). It is to benoted that this AC rectangular wave Sg is equivalent to an AC drivesignal VcomAC to be described later.

In a state in which there is no touch (or approach) of a finger, anelectric current I0 according to a capacitance value of the capacitiveelement C1 flows, accompanying charge and discharge for the capacitiveelement C1, as illustrated in Parts (A) and (B) of FIG. 1. An electricpotential waveform at the other end P of the capacitive element C1 atthis moment is, for example, like a waveform V0 in Part (A) of FIG. 3,and this is detected by the voltage detector DET.

On the other hand, in a state in which there is a touch (or an approach)of a finger, a capacitive element C2 formed by the finger is added tothe capacitive element C1 in series, as illustrated in Parts (A) and (B)of FIG. 2. In this state, currents I1 and I2 flow, accompanying chargeand discharge for the capacitive elements C1 and C2, respectively. Anelectric potential waveform at the other end P of the capacitive elementC1 at this moment is, for example, like a waveform V1 in Part (A) ofFIG. 3, and this is detected by the voltage detector DET. At the time,the electric potential of the point P is a partial pressure potentialdetermined by the values of the currents I1 and I2 flowing through thecapacitive elements C1 and C2. For this reason, the waveform V1 is avalue smaller than the waveform V0 in a noncontact state. The voltagedetector DET compares the detected voltage with a predeterminedthreshold voltage Vth, and determines that the noncontact state isestablished when the detected voltage is equal to or higher than thisthreshold voltage, and on the other hand, determines that a contactstate is established when the detected voltage is lower than thisthreshold voltage. In this way, the touch detection is enabled.

2. EMBODIMENT Configuration Example Overall Configuration Example

FIG. 4 illustrates a configuration example of a display panel with atouch detection function 1 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. This display panel with a touch detection function 1 is of aso-called in-cell type, in which a liquid crystal display element isused as a display element, and a liquid crystal display deviceconfigured by using the liquid crystal display element and acapacitance-type touch detection device are integrated.

This display panel with a touch detection function 1 includes a drivesection 50, a gate driver 12, a display device with a touch detectionfunction 10, and a touch detection section 40.

The drive section 50 drives the display device with a touch detectionfunction 10. This drive section 50 is integrated to be a chip through,for example, a silicon process, and implemented on a pixel board 2 as aso-called COG (Chip On Glass), as will be described later.

The drive section 50 includes a display control section 11, a sourcedriver 13, a scanning section 51, a drive electrode driver 52, and apower control section 53.

The display control section 11 is a circuit that supplies a controlsignal to each of the source driver 13, the gate driver 12, and thetouch detection section 40, based on an image signal Vdisp suppliedexternally, thereby controlling these elements to operate insynchronization with one another. Specifically, the display controlsection 11 supplies a pixel signal Vsig and a source-driver controlsignal to the source driver 13, supplies a gate-driver control signal tothe gate driver 12, and supplies a horizontal synchronization signalHsync and a vertical synchronization signal Vsync to the touch detectionsection 40.

The source driver 13 generates a pixel signal Vpix based on the pixelsignal Vsig and the source-driver control signal supplied from thedisplay control section 11, and supplies the generated signal to a pixelsignal line SGL of the display device with a touch detection function10. As will be described later, the pixel signal Vpix supplied to thepixel signal line SGL is written in pixels Pix of one row (onehorizontal line) selected by the gate driver 12, among pixels Pixconfigured in a matrix in the display device with a touch detectionfunction 10, and thereby display is performed.

The scanning section 51 is configured to include a shift register, andgenerates a plurality of scanning signals based on a TX synchronizationsignal Vtx supplied from the touch detection section 40, and suppliesthe generated signals to the drive electrode driver 52. As will bedescribed later, the scanning signals respectively correspond to aplurality of drive electrode blocks B (to be described later) driven bythe drive electrode driver 52, and thereby the drive electrode driver 52sequentially scans and drives these drive electrode blocks B.

The drive electrode driver 52 is a circuit that supplies a drive signalVcom to a drive electrode COML (to be described later) of the displaydevice with a touch detection function 10, based on the scanning signalsupplied from the scanning section 51. Specifically, the drive electrodedriver 52 amplifies the scanning signal supplied from the scanningsection 51, and generates the drive signal Vcom by performing impedanceconversion. This drive signal Vcom is a signal including a pulsewaveform (an AC drive signal VcomAC), and the drive electrode driver 52applies the AC drive signal VcomAC to the drive electrodes COML in touchdetection operation. In display operation, the drive electrode driver 52applies a DC voltage (a DC drive signal VcomDC) to the drive electrodesCOML. A DC voltage of this DC drive signal VcomDC is, for example, 0 V,and a high-level voltage VH of the AC drive signal VcomAC may be set at,for example, 5.5 V. As will be described later, the drive electrodedriver 52 drives the drive electrodes COML for each block (the driveelectrode block B to be described later) including a predeterminednumber of drive electrodes COML.

The power control section 53 controls power supply to each block (thedisplay control section 11, the source driver 13, the scanning section51, and the drive electrode driver 52) of the drive section 50, based ona display source voltage VDDD and a touch-detection source voltage VDDTwhich have been supplied thereto. In addition, the power control section53 supplies the touch detection section 40 with a display power flagsignal Vpd indicating whether the display source voltage VDDD issupplied. Specifically, the display power flag signal Vpd is a logicsignal that is at a high level (e.g., 1.8 V) when the display sourcevoltage VDDD is supplied, and at a low level (0V) when the displaysource voltage VDDD is not supplied.

The gate driver 12 has a function of sequentially selecting onehorizontal line targeted for display driving of the display device witha touch detection function 10, based on the gate-driver control signalsupplied from the display control section 11. Specifically, as will bedescribed later, the gate driver 12 generates a scanning signal Vscanbased on the control signal supplied from the display control section11, and applies the scanning signal Vscan to a gate of a TFT element Trof the pixel Pix via a scanning signal line GCL, thereby sequentiallyselecting one row (one horizontal line) of the pixels Pix formed in amatrix in a liquid-crystal display device 20 of the display device witha touch detection function 10, as a target for the display driving. Thegate driver 12 is supplied with the display source voltage VDDD.

This gate driver 12 is formed on a TFT board 21 of the display devicewith a touch detection function 10 to be described later. At the timewhen the TFT element Tr (to be described later) of the liquid-crystaldisplay device 20 is formed, the gate driver 12 is formed using the sameprocess.

The display device with a touch detection function 10 is a displaydevice with a built-in touch detection function. The display device witha touch detection function 10 has the liquid-crystal display device 20and a touch detection device 30. The liquid-crystal display device 20is, as will be described later, a device that performs display bysequentially scanning the horizontal lines one by one, according to thescanning signal Vscan supplied from the gate driver 12. The touchdetection device 30 operates based on the above-described basicprinciple of the capacitance-type touch detection, and outputs the touchdetection signal Vdet. This touch detection device 30 is, as will bedescribed later, configured to perform sequential scanning according tothe AC drive signal VcomAC supplied from the drive electrode driver 52,and thereby performing the touch detection.

The touch detection section 40 is a circuit that detects the presence orabsence of a touch event on the touch detection device 30, based on thetouch-detection control signal supplied from the display control section11 and the touch detection signal Vdet supplied from the touch detectiondevice 30 of the display device with a touch detection function 10, andwhen there is a touch event, determines its coordinates or the like in atouch detection region. The touch detection section 40 is supplied withthe touch-detection source voltage VDDT.

This touch detection section 40 has a LPF (Low Pass Filter) section 42,an A/D conversion section 43, a signal processing section 44, acoordinate extraction section 45, and a touch-detection control section46. The LPF section 42 is a low-pass analog filter that removes a highfrequency component (noise component) contained in the touch detectionsignal Vdet supplied from the touch detection device 30, and extractsand outputs each touch component. The A/D conversion section 43 is acircuit that samples each analog signal outputted from the LPF section42 at timing synchronized with the AC drive signal VcomAC, and convertsthe analog signal into a digital signal. The signal processing section44 is a logical circuit that detects the presence or absence of a touchevent on the touch detection device 30, based on an output signal of theA/D conversion section 43. The coordinate extraction section 45 is alogical circuit that determines, when the touch event is detected in thesignal processing section 44, its touch-panel coordinates. Thetouch-detection control section 46 controls the LPF section 42, the A/Dconversion section 43, the signal processing section 44, and thecoordinate extraction section 45, to operate in synchronization with oneanother, based on the horizontal synchronization signal Hsync and thevertical synchronization signal Vsync supplied from the display controlsection 11. In addition, the touch-detection control section 46 also hasa function of generating the TX synchronization signal Vtx, based on thehorizontal synchronization signal Hsync and the vertical synchronizationsignal Vsync, and supplying the generated signal to the scanning section51. This TX synchronization signal Vtx is, for example, a logic signalchanging between a low level (e.g., 0 V) and a high-level (e.g., 1.8 V).Specifically, when the display power flag signal Vpd is at a high level,the touch-detection control section 46 generates the TX synchronizationsignal Vtx, based on the horizontal synchronization signal Hsync and thevertical synchronization signal Vsync supplied from the display controlsection 11, and when the display power flag signal Vpd is at a lowlevel, the touch-detection control section 46 generates the TXsynchronization signal Vtx by itself.

[Display Device with Touch Detection Function 10]

Next, a configuration example of the display device with a touchdetection function 10 will be described in detail.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a cross-sectional structure of a mainpart in the display device with a touch detection function 10. Thisdisplay device with a touch detection function 10 includes the pixelboard 2, an opposite board 3 disposed to face this pixel board 2, and aliquid crystal layer 6 interposed between the pixel board 2 and theopposite board 3.

The pixel board 2 has a TFT board 21 serving as a circuit board, thedrive electrodes COML, and pixel electrodes 22. The TFT board 21functions as a circuit board where various electrodes, wires, thin filmtransistors (TFTs), and the like are formed. The TFT board 21 is madeof, for example, glass. Formed on the TFT board 21 are the driveelectrodes COML. The drive electrode COML is an electrode to supply avoltage common to the pixels Pix (to be described later). This driveelectrode COML functions as a common drive electrode forliquid-crystal-display operation, and also functions as a driveelectrode for touch detection operation. Formed on the drive electrodesCOML is an insulating layer 23, and the pixel electrodes 22 are formedon the insulating layer 23. The pixel electrode 22 is an electrode tosupply a pixel signal for display, and has translucency. The driveelectrode COML and the pixel electrode 22 are made of, for example, ITO(Indium Tin Oxide).

The opposite board 3 has a glass substrate 31, a color filter 32, andtouch detection electrodes TDL. The color filter 32 is formed on onesurface of the glass substrate 31. This color filter 32 is configured,for example, by periodically arranging color filter layers of threecolors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B), and one set of the threecolors of R, G, and B is associated with each display pixel. Formed onthe other surface of the glass substrate 31 are the touch detectionelectrodes TDL. The touch detection electrode TDL is an electrode madeof, for example, ITO, and has translucency. On this touch detectionelectrode TDL, a polarizing plate 35 is disposed.

The liquid crystal layer 6 functions as a display functional layer, andmodulates light passing therethrough according to the state of anelectric field. This electric field is formed by a potential differencebetween a voltage of the drive electrode COML and a voltage of the pixelelectrode 22. A liquid crystal in a transverse electric field mode, suchas FFS (Fringe Field Switching) and IPS (In Plane Switching) is used inthe liquid crystal layer 6.

It is to be noted that each of between the liquid crystal layer 6 andthe pixel board 2, and between the liquid crystal layer 6 and theopposite board 3, an oriented film is disposed, and an incidence-sidepolarizing plate is disposed on the undersurface side of the pixel board2, but the illustration is omitted here.

FIG. 6 illustrates a configuration example of a pixel structure in theliquid-crystal display device 20. The liquid-crystal display device 20has the pixels Pix arranged in a matrix. Each of the pixels Pix isconfigured to include three subpixels SPix. These three subpixels SPixare arranged to correspond to the three colors (RGB) of the color filter32 illustrated in FIG. 5, respectively. The subpixel SPix has the TFTelement Tr and a liquid crystal element LC. The TFT element Tr isconfigured by using a thin-film transistor and, in this example,configured by using an n-channel MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) TFT. Ofthe TFT element Tr, a source is connected to the pixel signal line SGL,a gate is connected to the scanning signal line GCL, and a drain isconnected to one end of the liquid crystal element LC. As for the liquidcrystal element LC, one end is connected to the drain of the TFT elementTr, and the other end is connected to the drive electrode COML.

The subpixel SPix is connected to other subpixels SPix belonging to thesame row of the liquid-crystal display device 20, by the scanning signalline GCL. The scanning signal line GCL is connected to the gate driver12, and supplied with the scanning signal Vscan from the gate driver 12.In addition, the subpixel SPix is connected to other subpixels SPixbelonging to the same column of the liquid-crystal display device 20, bythe pixel signal line SGL. The pixel signal line SGL is connected to thesource driver 13, and supplied with the pixel signal Vpix from thesource driver 13.

Further, the subpixel SPix is connected to other subpixels SPixbelonging to the same row of the liquid-crystal display device 20, bythe drive electrode COML. The drive electrode COML is connected to thedrive electrode driver 52, and supplied with the drive signal Vcom fromthe drive electrode driver 52.

With this configuration, in the liquid-crystal display device 20, thegate driver 12 drives the scanning signal line GCL to perform the linesequential scanning time-divisionally, and thereby one horizontal lineis selected sequentially, and the pixels Pix belonging to the selectedone horizontal line are supplied with the pixel signal Vpix from thesource driver 13, and thereby display is performed for every onehorizontal line.

FIG. 7 illustrates a configuration example of the touch detection device30 perspectively. The touch detection device 30 is configured to includethe drive electrodes COML provided at the pixel board 2, and the touchdetection electrodes TDL provided at the opposite board 3. The driveelectrode COML is configured to have stripe-shaped electrode patternextending in a lateral direction of this figure. When touch detectionoperation is performed, the AC drive signal VcomAC is sequentiallysupplied from the drive electrode driver 52 to the electrode pattern,and sequential scanning driving is performed in a time-sharing manner,as will be described later. The touch detection electrode TDL isconfigured to have stripe-shaped electrode pattern extending in adirection orthogonal to the direction in which the electrode pattern ofthe drive electrode COML extend. The electrode pattern of the touchdetection electrode TDL is connected to the LPF section 42 of the touchdetection section 40. The electrode patterns of the drive electrode COMLand the touch detection electrode TDL crossing each other form acapacitance at the intersection.

By this configuration, in the touch detection device 30, when the driveelectrode driver 52 applies the AC drive signal VcomAC to the driveelectrode COML, the touch detection signal Vdet is outputted from thetouch detection electrode TDL, and thereby the touch detection isperformed. In other words, the drive electrode COML corresponds to thedrive electrode E1, and the touch detection electrode TDL corresponds tothe touch detection electrode E2, in the basic principle of the touchdetection illustrated in Part (A) of FIG. 1 to Part (B) of FIG. 3, andthus, the touch detection device 30 detects a touch event in accordancewith this basic principle. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the electrodepatterns intersecting each other form the capacitance-type touch sensorin a matrix. Therefore, it is also possible to detect a position where atouch or an approach of an external proximity object has occurred, byscanning an entire touch detection surface of the touch detection device30.

FIGS. 8A to 8C schematically illustrate touch detection scanning. FIGS.8A to 8C illustrate operation of applying the AC drive signal VcomAC toeach of drive electrode blocks B1 to B20, in a case where a displayregion/touch detection region includes the twenty drive electrode blocksB1 to B20. A drive-signal-applied block BAC indicates the driveelectrode block B to which the AC drive signal VcomAC is applied, andthe DC drive signal VcomDC is applied to other drive electrode blocks B.As illustrated in FIGS. 8A to 8C, the drive electrode driver 52sequentially selects the drive electrode block B targeted for the touchdetection operation, applies the AC drive signal VcomAC thereto, andscans all the drive electrode blocks B. At the time, as will bedescribed later, the drive electrode driver 52 applies the AC drivesignal VcomAC to each of the drive electrode blocks B over apredetermined number of horizontal periods. It is to be noted that, inthis example, the number of the drive electrode blocks B is twenty forconvenience of description, but is not limited to this number.

[Implementation Example of Display Panel with Touch Detection Function1)

FIG. 9 schematically illustrates an implementation example of thedisplay panel with a touch detection function 1. As illustrated in FIG.9, the drive section 50 is implemented as the COG on the pixel board 2,and connected to each of the drive electrode blocks B arranged side byside via a wire L. In this example, the wires L are provided on an upperside and a lower side of the drive electrode blocks B in FIG. 9, and thedrive section 50 is allowed to drive each of the drive electrode blocksB from both sides. Then, the gate driver 12 (12A and 12B) is formed onthe TFT board 21 by using a TFT element, and connected to the drivesection 50. In this example, the gate driver 12 is disposed on an upperside (12A) and a lower side (12B) of the pixel board 2 in FIG. 9, and isallowed to drive the pixels Pix (not illustrated) disposed in a matrixin a display region Ad, from both sides. Further, the touch detectionsection 40 is implemented on a flexible printed circuit board T, andconnected to each of the touch detection electrodes TDL arranged side byside.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, this drive section 50 is disposed on a side(the right side) of the pixel board 2 which is different from the sideswhere the gate drivers 12A and 12B are disposed, in the display panelwith a touch detection function 1. This allows the length of the wire Lto be made short, and makes it easy for the drive section 50 to drivethe drive electrode block B, compared to a case where the drive section50 is disposed on the flexible printed circuit board T, for example.

It is to be noted that, in this example, the wires L are disposed on theupper side and the lower side of the drive electrode blocks B in FIG. 9,but are not limited to this example, and may be provided only on one ofthe upper side and the lower side of the drive electrode blocks B.Similarly, in this example, the two gate drivers 12A and 12B areprovided, but this is not a limitation, and a configuration in whichonly one of these gate drivers is provided may be adopted.

Here, the liquid crystal element LC corresponds to a specific example of“display element” in the present disclosure. The AC drive signal VcomACcorresponds to a specific example of “drive signal” in the presentdisclosure. The scanning section 51 and the drive electrode driver 52correspond to a specific example of “electrode drive section” in thepresent disclosure. The display control section 11 and the source driver13 correspond to a specific example of “display drive section” in thepresent disclosure. The horizontal synchronization signal Hsync and thevertical synchronization signal Vsync correspond to a specific exampleof “display synchronization signal” in the present disclosure. The TXsynchronization signal Vtx corresponds to a specific example of“touch-detection synchronization signal” in the present disclosure.

[Operation and Function]

Next, there will be described the operation and function of the displaypanel with a touch detection function 1 in the present embodiment.

First, a summary of the entire operation of the display panel with atouch detection function 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 4.Based on the image signal Vdisp supplied externally, the display controlsection 11 supplies the control signal to each of the gate driver 12,the source driver 13, and the touch detection section 40, therebycontrolling these elements to operate in synchronization with oneanother. The gate driver 12 supplies the scanning signal Vscan to theliquid-crystal display device 20, thereby sequentially selecting onehorizontal line targeted for display driving. The source driver 13generates the pixel signal Vpix, and supplies the generated signal toeach of the subpixels SPix of one horizontal line. The liquid crystaldisplay device 20 of the display device with a touch detection function10 performs display operation.

Based on the horizontal synchronization signal Hsync and the verticalsynchronization signal Vsync supplied from the display control section11, the touch-detection control section 46 of the touch detectionsection 40 generates the TX synchronization signal Vtx. The scanningsection 51 generates the scanning signal based on this TXsynchronization signal Vtx, and the drive electrode driver 52 generatesthe drive signal Vcom based on this scanning signal and supplies thegenerated signal to the drive electrode COML of the touch detectiondevice 30 in the display device with a touch detection function 10.Based on the drive signal Vcom, the touch detection device 30 outputsthe touch detection signal Vdet from the touch detection electrode TDL.The LPF section 42 of the touch detection section 40 removes the highfrequency component (noise component) contained in the touch detectionsignal Vdet, and extracts and outputs the touch component. The A/Dconversion section 43 converts the analog signal outputted from the LPFsection 42 into the digital signal. The signal processing section 44detects the presence or absence of a touch event on the display devicewith a touch detection function 10, based on the output signal of theA/D conversion section 43. When the touch detection is performed in thesignal processing section 44, the coordinate extraction section 45determines its touch-panel coordinates.

The power control section 53 of the drive section 50 controls the powersupply to each of the blocks in the drive section 50, based on thedisplay source voltage VDDD and the touch-detection source voltage VDDTsupplied thereto.

[Detailed Operation]

Next, detailed operation of the display panel with a touch detectionfunction 1 will be described.

Parts (A) to (H) of FIG. 10 illustrate timing waveform examples of thedisplay panel with a touch detection function 1, namely, Part (A)indicates a waveform of the vertical synchronization signal Vsync, Part(B) indicates a waveform of the horizontal synchronization signal Hsync,Part (C) indicates waveforms of the scanning signal Vscan, Part (D)indicates a waveform of the pixel signal Vsig, Part (E) indicateswaveforms of the pixel signal Vpix. Part (F) indicates a waveform of theTX synchronization signal Vtx, Part (G) indicates a waveform of thedrive signal Vcom, and Part (H) indicates a waveform of the touchdetection signal Vdet.

In the display panel with a touch detection function 1, the touchdetection operation and the display operation are carried out in eachone horizontal period (1H). In the display operation, the gate driver 12sequentially applies the scanning signal Vscan to the scanning signalline GCL, thereby performing the display scanning. In the touchdetection operation, the drive electrode driver 52 sequentially appliesthe AC drive signal VcomAC to each of the drive electrode blocks B,thereby performing the touch detection scanning, and the touch detectionsection 40 detects the touch event based on the touch detection signalVdet outputted from the touch detection electrode TDL. The details willbe described below.

First, at timing to, the display control section 11 generates a pulse asthe horizontal synchronization signal Hsync, and supplies the generatedpulse to the touch-detection control section 46 (Part (B) of FIG. 10).As a result, one horizontal period begins. Further, at this timing t0,the display control section 11 generates a pulse having a widthcorresponding to the one horizontal period, and supplies this pulse tothe touch-detection control section 46 similarly (Part (A) of FIG. 10).In other words, in this example, one frame period (1F) starts at thetiming to.

Next, in a period of timings t1 to t2, the touch-detection controlsection 46 generates a pulse as the TX synchronization signal Vtx (Part(F) of FIG. 10). In response to this, the scanning section 51 of thedrive section 50 selects the drive electrode block B related to thetouch detection operation (here, the kth drive electrode block B(k)),and generates a pulse as the scanning signal corresponding to the driveelectrode block B(k). The drive electrode driver 52 amplifies thisscanning signal, and also performs the impedance conversion, therebygenerating and applying a pulse (the AC drive signal VcomAC) as thedrive signal Vcom (B(k)) to the drive electrode block B(k) (Part (G) ofFIG. 10). This AC drive signal VcomAC is transmitted to the touchdetection electrode TDL through the capacitance, and the touch detectionsignal Vdet changes (Part (H) of FIG. 10). Then, at sampling timing ts,the A/D conversion section 43 of the touch detection section 40 performsA/D conversion of the output signal of the LPF section 42 to which thistouch detection signal Vdet has been inputted (Part (H) of FIG. 10). Thesignal processing section 44 of the touch detection section 40 performsthe touch detection, based on a result of this A/D conversion collectedover a plurality of horizontal periods, as will be described later.

Next, at timing t3, the gate driver 12 applies the scanning signal Vscanto the scanning signal line GCL(n) in the nth row related to the displayoperation, and the scanning signal Vscan(n) changes from a low level toa high level (Part (C) of FIG. 10). Then, the source driver 13 appliesthe pixel signal Vpix to the pixel signal line SGL (Part (E) of FIG.10), and the display of the pixels Pix of the one horizontal linerelated to the scanning signal line GCL(n) in the nth row is performed.

Specifically, at first, the gate driver 12 changes the scanning signalVscan(n) from the low level to the high level at the timing t3, therebyselecting the one horizontal line related to the display operation.Then, the display control section 11 supplies the source driver 13 witha pixel voltage VR for a red subpixel SPix, as the pixel signal Vsig(Part (D) of FIG. 10). The source driver 13 separates the pixel voltageVR supplied by the display control section 11, from the pixel signalVsig, and supplies the pixel voltage VR as a pixel signal VpixR to thered subpixel SPix related to the one horizontal line, through the pixelsignal line SGL (Part (E) of FIG. 10). Similarly, the display controlsection 11 supplies the source driver 13 with a pixel voltage VG for agreen subpixel SPix as the pixel signal Vsig (Part (D) of FIG. 10), andthe source driver 13 separates this pixel voltage VG from the pixelsignal Vsig, and supplies the pixel voltage VG as a pixel signal VpixGto a green subpixel SPix related to the one horizontal line (Part (E) ofFIG. 10). Afterwards, similarly, the display control section 11 suppliesthe source driver 13 with a pixel voltage VB for a blue subpixel SPix(Part (D) of FIG. 10), and the source driver 13 separates this pixelvoltage VB from the pixel signal Vsig, and supplies the pixel voltage VBas a pixel signal VpixB to a blue subpixel SPix related to the onehorizontal line (Part (E) of FIG. 10).

Next, at timing t4, the gate driver 12 changes the scanning signalVscan(n) of the scanning signal line GCL in the nth row from the highlevel to the low level (Part (C) of FIG. 10). This electrically isolatesthe subpixel SPix of the one horizontal line related to the displayoperation, from the pixel signal line SGL.

Afterwards, in the display panel with a touch detection function 1, byrepeating the operation described above, the display operation in theentire display screen is performed by the line-sequential scanning, andalso the touch detection operation in the entire touch detection regionis carried out by performing the scanning for each of the driveelectrode blocks B, as will be described below.

Parts (A) to (D) of FIG. 11 illustrate an operation example of the touchdetection scanning, namely, Part (A) illustrates a waveform of thevertical synchronization signal Vsync, Part (B) illustrates a waveformof the TX synchronization signal Vtx, Part (C) illustrates waveforms ofthe drive signal Vcom, and Part (D) illustrates a waveform of the touchdetection signal Vdet.

As illustrated in Parts (A) to (D) of FIG. 11, the drive electrodedriver 52 generates the AC drive signal VcomAC synchronized with the TXsynchronization signal Vtx, and sequentially applies the generated ACdrive signal VcomAC to each of the drive electrode blocks B, therebyperforming the touch detection scanning for the drive electrode COML. Atthe time, the drive electrode driver 52 applies the AC drive signalVcomAC to each of the drive electrode blocks B over a predeterminednumber of horizontal periods (Part (C) of FIG. 11). The touch detectiondevice 30 outputs the touch detection signal Vdet based on this AC drivesignal VcomAC, in each of the one horizontal periods (Part (D) of FIG.11), and the touch detection section 40 samples this touch detectionsignal Vdet. In the touch detection section 40, after the sampling inthe last one of the predetermined number of horizontal periods isfinished, the signal processing section 44 detects the presence orabsence of the touch event in a region corresponding to the driveelectrode block B, based on the plurality of sampling results. In thisway, the touch detection is performed based on the plurality of samplingresults and thus, it is possible to analyze the sampling resultsstatistically, suppress deterioration of the S/N ratio caused byvariation of the sampling results, and enhance accuracy of the touchdetection.

In the display panel with a touch detection function 1, the scanningsection 51 and the drive electrode driver 52 related to the touchdetection operation are integrated together with the display controlsection 11 and the source driver 13 related to the display operation,and formed as one chip. An effect of this integration will be describedbelow.

[Multifunctionality]

In the display panel with a touch detection function 1, the scanningsection 51 and the drive electrode driver 52 are integrated to be thechip and thus, it is possible to form a more multifunctional circuit. Inother words, for example, in a case where the scanning section 51 andthe drive electrode driver 52 are formed on the TFT board 21 of thedisplay device with a touch detection function 10 by using the sameprocess as that of the TFT element Tr like the gate driver 12,processing accuracy is, for example, 3 [um] which is low, and therefore,the circuit area is large. On the other hand, in the case where thescanning section 51 and the drive electrode driver 52 are made to be onechip through a silicon process and the like, and implemented as a COG,processing accuracy is, for example, 80 [nm] which is high, andtherefore, it is possible to make the circuit area smaller. In otherwords, in the case where the scanning section 51 and the drive electrodedriver 52 are formed using the same process as that of the TFT elementTr, it is difficult to form a multifunctional circuit because of alimitation in terms of circuit area, but providing them as one chipmakes it possible to form more circuits per unit area and thus allowsimplementation of a multifunctional circuit.

This achievement of multifunctionality allows, for example, morecomplicated touch detection scanning and more intricate power supplycontrol, in the display panel with a touch detection function 1. Anexample thereof will be described below in detail.

Parts (A) to (D) of FIG. 12 illustrate an example of more complicatedtouch detection scanning, namely, Part (A) illustrates a waveform of thevertical synchronization signal Vsync, Part (B) illustrates a waveformof the TX synchronization signal Vtx. Part (C) illustrates waveforms ofthe drive signal Vcom, and Part (D) illustrates a waveform of the touchdetection signal Vdet.

In this example, the drive electrode driver 52 applies the AC drivesignal VcomAC only to the odd-numbered drive electrode blocks B (B(1),B(3), B(5), . . . ). This makes it possible to detect whether a touch ismade in the touch detection region, in a short time. In other words, inParts (A) to (D) of FIG. 11, it is possible to determine the position ofthe touch event in the touch detection region specifically, bysequentially driving all the drive electrode blocks B, and in thisexample (Parts (A) to (D) of FIG. 12), it is possible to detect onlywhether a touch is merely made, by sequentially driving only theodd-numbered drive electrode blocks B among all the drive electrodeblocks B.

The touch detection scanning as illustrated in Parts (A) to (D) of FIG.12 may not be realized by, for example, merely changing the waveform ofa signal inputted into the shift register, in the scanning section 51configured to perform the touch detection scanning in Parts (A) to (D)of FIG. 11. In other words, in order to perform both the scanning inParts (A) to (D) of FIG. 11 and the scanning in Parts (A) to (D) of FIG.12, addition of a circuit dedicated to achieve multifunctionality isdesired. In the display panel with a touch detection function 1, thescanning section 51 and the drive electrode driver 52 are integrated andformed as the chip and thus, such multifunctionality may be realizedwith a small circuit area.

FIGS. 13A to 13C each illustrate an example of the power supply control,namely, FIG. 13A illustrates a case in which both the display operationand the touch detection operation are performed, FIG. 13B illustrates acase in which only the display operation is performed, and FIG. 13Cillustrates a case in which only the touch detection operation isperformed. In FIGS. 13A to 13C, blocks made in solid lines each indicatea block supplied with power, and blocks made in dashed lines eachindicate a block supplied with no power.

As illustrated in FIG. 13A, when both the display source voltage VDDDand the touch-detection source voltage VDDT are supplied, the powercontrol section 53 of the drive section 50 performs power supply to eachof the blocks (the display control section 11, the source driver 13, thescanning section 51, and the drive electrode driver 52) in the drivesection 50. This makes the display panel with a touch detection function1 perform the display operation and the touch detection operation asdescribed above.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 13B, when only the display sourcevoltage VDDD is supplied, the power control section 53 performs powersupply to the display control section 11, the source driver 13, and thedrive electrode driver 52 among the blocks in the drive section 50. Atthe time, the drive electrode driver 52 supplies the DC drive signalVcomDC to all the drive electrodes COML. In other words, the driveelectrode driver 52 does not apply the AC drive signal VcomAC to thedrive electrodes COML. Then, the source driver 13 supplies the pixelsignal Vpix to one horizontal line selected by the gate driver 12. Inthis way, the display panel with a touch detection function 1 performsonly the display operation in this case.

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 13C, when only the touch-detectionsource voltage VDDT is supplied, the power control section 53 performspower supply to the scanning section 51 and the drive electrode driver52 among the blocks in the drive section 50. At the time, the powercontrol section 53 generates the display power flag signal Vpd at a lowlevel, and supplies this signal to the touch-detection control section46 of the touch detection section 40. Then, the touch-detection controlsection 46 generates the TX synchronization signal Vtx by itself, andsupplies this signal to the scanning section 51. This causes thescanning section 51 and the drive electrode driver 52 to generate thedrive signal Vcom, and supply this signal to the drive electrode COML.Then, the touch detection section 40 detects a touch event based on thetouch detection signal Vdet according to this drive signal Vcom. In thisway, the display panel with a touch detection function 1 performs onlythe touch detection operation in this case.

In this way, in the display panel with a touch detection function 1, thepower control section 53 is provided in the drive section 50, and afunction of controlling power supply is built therein and therefore, thepower supply control according to its use and the like is allowed,making it possible to reduce power consumption.

[Reduction in Frame Region]

Next, a reduction in a frame region of the display panel with a touchdetection function 1 will be described in comparison with a comparativeexample. A display panel with a touch detection function 1R according tothis comparative example is configured by forming a scanning section anda drive electrode driver on a TFT board 21 of a display device with atouch detection function 10, by using the same process as that of a TFTelement Tr, not as a chip of the drive section 50. Otherwise, thedisplay panel with a touch detection function 1R is similar inconfiguration to the present embodiment (FIG. 4).

FIG. 14A schematically illustrates an implementation example of thedisplay panel with a touch detection function 1 according to the presentembodiment, and FIG. 14B schematically illustrates an implementationexample of the display panel with a touch detection function 1Raccording to the comparative example.

The display panel with a touch detection function 1R includes a drivesection 50R, a scanning section 51R (51RA and 51RB), and a driveelectrode driver 52R (52RA and 52RB) as illustrated in FIG. 14B. Thedrive section 50R is configured by removing the scanning section 51 andthe drive electrode driver 52 from the drive section 50 of the presentembodiment. The scanning section 51R and the drive electrode driver 52Rare circuits having functions equivalent to those of the scanningsection 51 and the drive electrode driver 52 according to the presentembodiment, and formed on the TFT board 21 of the display device with atouch detection function 10, by using the same process as that of theTFT element Tr. In this example, the scanning section 51RA and the driveelectrode driver 52RA are formed between drive electrode blocks B and agate driver 12A, and the scanning section 51RB and the drive electrodedriver 52RB are formed between the drive electrode blocks B and a gatedriver 12B. It is to be noted that this configuration corresponds toFIG. 15 of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2009-258182. In other words, it is conceivable that in this figure, aVcom drive circuit 9 is formed on a TFT board, using the same process asthat of a TFT element.

As illustrated in FIG. 14B, in the display panel with a touch detectionfunction 1R, the scanning section 51R and the drive electrode driver 52Rare formed using the same process as that of the TFT element Tr in amanner similar to the gate driver 12, and therefore, its processingaccuracy is low, resulting in a large circuit area. Thus, a width d (awidth in a vertical direction in FIGS. 14A and 14B) of the display panelwith a touch detection function 1R is large, as compared to the case ofthe present embodiment (FIG. 14A). In other words, in the display panelwith a touch detection function 1R, a region (a frame region) outside adisplay region Ad is larger than that in the case of the presentembodiment (FIG. 14A). Therefore, this may, for example, increase thesize of an electronic unit provided with this display panel with a touchdetection function 1R, or reduce flexibility in design of the electronicunit.

On the other hand, in the display panel with a touch detection function1 according to the present embodiment, the scanning section 51 and thedrive electrode driver 52 are integrated and formed as the chip.Therefore, the processing accuracy is high and thus, it is possible tomake the circuit area small, and reduce the frame region as illustratedin FIG. 14A. This makes it possible to, for example, reduce the size ofan electronic unit provided with the display panel with a touchdetection function 1, or increase flexibility in design of theelectronic unit.

[Effects]

As described above, in the present embodiment, the scanning section andthe drive electrode driver are integrated to be provided as the one chipand thus, it is possible to realize a multifunctional circuit. Thisallows, for example, more complicated touch detection scanning, and moreintricate power supply control.

In addition, in the present embodiment, since the scanning section andthe drive electrode driver are integrated to be the one chip, anddisposed on the side different from the side where the gate driver isdisposed, it is possible to shorten the width of the display panel witha touch detection function, and reduce the frame region.

Further, in the present embodiment, the drive electrode driver isdisposed near the drive electrode blocks and thus, it is possible tomake the driving of the drive electrode blocks easy.

[Modification 1-1]

In the embodiment described above, the display source voltage VDDD andthe touch-detection source voltage VDDT are supplied separately to eachof the blocks of the display panel with a touch detection function 1,but this is not a limitation. Instead, for example, a common sourcevoltage VDD may be supplied. This example will be described below indetail.

FIG. 15 illustrates a configuration example of a display panel with atouch detection function 1B according to the present modification. Thedisplay panel with a touch detection function 1B includes a drivesection 50B and a touch detection section 40B. In the display panel witha touch detection function 1B, a single source voltage VDD is suppliedexternally and distributed to each block.

The drive section 50B has a power control section 53B. The power controlsection 53B controls power supply to each block (a display controlsection 11, a source driver 13, a scanning section 51, and a driveelectrode driver 52) of the drive section 50B based on a power-supplycontrol signal Vpow. Specifically, for example, the power-supply controlsignal Vpow controls the power supply to each block as in FIG. 13C whenbeing a signal of ordering both display operation and touch detectionoperation, controls the power supply to each block as in FIG. 13B whenbeing a signal of ordering only the display operation, and controls thepower supply to each block as in FIG. 13C when being a signal ofordering only the touch detection operation. Further, the power controlsection 53B supplies the touch detection section 40B with a displaypower flag signal Vpd indicating whether the source voltage is suppliedto the block (the display control section 11 and the source driver 13)related to the display operation, and also supplies the touch detectionsection 40B with a touch-detection power flag signal Vpt indicatingwhether the source voltage is supplied to the block (the scanningsection 51) related to the touch detection operation. Specifically, thistouch-detection power flag signal Vpt is a logic signal that is at ahigh level (e.g., 1.8 V) when the source voltage is supplied to theblock related to the touch detection operation, and at a low level (0 V)when the source voltage is not supplied to this block.

The touch detection section 40B has a touch-detection control section46B. Like the touch-detection control section 46 according to theabove-described embodiment, the touch-detection control section 46Bcontrols a LPF section 42, an A/D conversion section 43, a signalprocessing section 44, and a coordinate extraction section 45 to operatein synchronization with one another, based on a horizontalsynchronization signal Hsync and a vertical synchronization signalVsync, and also generates and supplies a TX synchronization signal Vtxto the scanning section 51. In addition, the touch-detection controlsection 46B also has a function of stopping the power supply to the LPFsection 42, the A/D conversion section 43, the signal processing section44, and the coordinate extraction section 45, when the touch-detectionpower flag signal Vpt is at the low level.

In this case as well, it is possible to realize a reduction in powerconsumption, by causing the power control section 53B to perform thepower supply control based on the power-supply control signal Vpow, inthe display panel with a touch detection function 1B.

[Modification 1-2]

In the above-described embodiment, the drive electrodes COML are drivenand scanned for each of the drive electrode blocks B each including thepredetermined number of drive electrodes COML, but this is not alimitation. Instead, for example, a predetermined number of driveelectrodes COML may be driven simultaneously, and scanned by shiftingthrough the drive electrodes COML one by one. The details will bedescribed below.

FIGS. 16A to 16C schematically illustrate an operation example of adrive electrode driver 52C according to the present modification. Thedrive electrode driver 52C applies an AC drive signal VcomAC to apredetermined number of drive electrodes COML simultaneously.Specifically, the drive electrode driver 52C applies the AC drive signalVcomAC to the predetermined number (five, in this case) of driveelectrodes COML simultaneously (a drive-signal-applied electrode LAC).Then, the drive electrode driver 52C performs touch detection scanningby shifting through one by one the drive electrodes COML to which the ACdrive signal VcomAC is applied. It is to be noted that, in this example,the AC drive signal VcomAC is applied to the five drive electrodes COMLsimultaneously, but is not limited to this example. Instead, the ACdrive signal VcomAC may be applied to four or less, or six or more driveelectrodes COML simultaneously. Further, in this example, the scanningis performed by shifting through one by one the drive electrodes COML towhich the AC drive signal VcomAC is applied, but this is not alimitation. Instead, shifting for every two or more may be performed.

[Modification 1-3]

In the embodiment described above, the touch detection section 40 andthe drive section 50 are integrated into separate chips, but are notlimited to this example. Instead, for example, as illustrated in FIG.17, the touch detection section 40 and the drive section 50 may beintegrated into the same chip.

[Other Modifications]

In the above-described embodiment, the drive electrode block B isconfigured to include the plurality of drive electrodes COML, but is notlimited to this example. Instead, for example, the plurality of driveelectrodes COML may be formed to be thick by being integrated, and thismay be driven as the drive electrode block B.

3. APPLICATION EXAMPLES

Next, with reference to FIG. 18 to FIG. 22G, there will be describedapplication examples of the display panel with a touch detectionfunction in each of the above-described embodiment and modifications.The display panel with a touch detection function in each of theembodiment and the like may be applied to electronic units in variousfields, such as television receivers, digital cameras, laptop computers,portable terminal devices such as portable telephones, and videocameras. In other words, it is possible to apply the display panel witha touch detection function in each of the embodiment and the like toelectronic units in various fields, which display externally-input imagesignals or internally-generated image signals as still or moving images.

Application Example 1

FIG. 18 illustrates an external view of a television receiver to whichthe display panel with a touch detection function in any of theembodiment and the like is applied. This television receiver has, forexample, an image display screen section 510 that includes a front panel511 and a filter glass 512, and this video display screen section 510 isconfigured using the display panel with a touch detection functionaccording to any of the embodiment and the like.

Application Example 2

FIGS. 19A and 19B each illustrate an external view of a digital camerato which the display panel with a touch detection function in any of theembodiment and the like is applied. This digital camera includes, forexample, a flash emitting section 521, a display section 522, a menuswitch 523, and a shutter release 524, and the display section 522 isconfigured using the display panel with a touch detection functionaccording to any of the embodiment and the like.

Application Example 3

FIG. 20 illustrates an external view of a laptop computer to which thedisplay panel with a touch detection function in any of the embodimentand the like is applied. This laptop computer includes, for example, amain section 531, a keyboard 532 for entering characters and the like,and a display section 533 that displays an image. The display section533 is configured using the display panel with a touch detectionfunction according to any of the embodiment and the like.

Application Example 4

FIG. 21 illustrates an external view of a video camera to which thedisplay panel with a touch detection function in any of the embodimentand the like is applied. This video camera includes, for example, a mainsection 541, a lens 542 disposed on a front face of this main section541 to shoot an image of a subject, a start/stop switch 543 used at thetime of shooting, and a display section 544. The display section 544 isconfigured using the display panel with a touch detection functionaccording to any of the embodiment and the like.

Application Example 51

FIGS. 22A to 22G illustrate external views of a portable telephone towhich the display panel with a touch detection function in any of theembodiment and the like is applied. This portable telephone is, forexample, a device in which an upper housing 710 and a lower housing 720are connected by a coupling section (hinge section) 730, and includes adisplay 740, a sub-display 750, a picture light 760, and a camera 770.The display 740 or the sub-display 750 is configured using the displaypanel with a touch detection function according to any of the embodimentand the like.

Up to this point, the present technology has been described by using theembodiment and modifications, as well as the application examples ofelectronic units, but is not limited to these embodiment and the like,and may be variously modified.

For example, in the embodiment and the like, the liquid crystal displaydevice configured by using the liquid crystal in the transverse electricfield mode such as FFS and IPS, and the touch detection device areintegrated. However, instead, a liquid crystal display device using aliquid crystal in various modes such as TN (Twisted Nematic). VA(Vertical Alignment), and ECB (Electrically Controlled Birefringence),and a touch detection device may be integrated. When such a liquidcrystal is used, the display device with a touch detection function maybe configured as illustrated in FIG. 23. FIG. 23 illustrates an exampleof a cross-sectional structure of a main part in a display device with atouch detection function 10E according to the present modification, andillustrates a state in which a liquid crystal layer 6B is held between apixel board 2B and an opposite board 3B. Names, functions, and the likeof all other elements are similar to those in the case of FIG. 5 andthus, the description will be omitted. In this example, unlike the caseof FIG. 5, drive electrodes COML used for both display and touchdetection are formed on the opposite board 3B.

Further, for example, in each of the embodiment and the like, there isemployed the so-called in-cell type in which the liquid crystal displaydevice and the capacitance-type touch detection device are integrated,but this is not a limitation. Instead, for example, there may beemployed a so-called on-cell type in which a capacitance-type touchdetection device is formed on a surface of a liquid crystal displaydevice.

Furthermore, for example, in each of the embodiment and the like, thetouch detection device is of capacitance type, but is not limitedthereto, and may be of, for example, optical type or resistive type,instead.

Moreover, for example, in each of the embodiment and the like, thedisplay element is the liquid crystal element, but is not limitedthereto, and may be, for example, an EL (Electro Luminescence) element.

It is to be noted that the present technology may be configured asfollows.

(1) A display panel with a touch detection function, the display panelincluding:

one or more display elements:

one or more drive electrodes extending in one direction;

an electrode drive section integrated into a chip, and applying a drivesignal to the drive electrodes; and

one or more touch detection electrodes extending in a directionintersecting the direction in which the drive electrodes extend.

(2) The display panel according to (1), further including

a display drive section driving the display elements,

wherein the display drive section is integrated together with theelectrode drive section.

(3) The display panel according to (2), wherein the electrode drivesection applies a drive signal to the drive electrodes, based on adisplay synchronization signal supplied from the display drive section.

(4) The display panel according to (3), further including atouch-detection control section controlling touch detection operation,

wherein the touch-detection control section generates a touch-detectionsynchronization signal based on the display synchronization signal, and

the electrode drive section applies the drive signal to the driveelectrodes, based on the touch-detection synchronization signal.

(5) The display panel according to (4), wherein the touch-detectioncontrol section is integrated together with the electrode drive section.

(6) The display panel according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein acapacitance is formed between each of the drive electrodes and each ofthe touch detection electrodes, and

a detection signal according to the drive signal applied to the driveelectrodes is outputted from the touch detection electrode.

(7) The display panel according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein theelectrode drive section performs scanning by sequentially selecting oneor more electrodes to be driven out of the drive electrodes, and appliesthe drive signal to the electrode to be driven.

(8) The display panel according to (7), wherein the electrode drivesection has a plurality of scanning modes whose methods of sequentiallyselecting the electrode to be driven are different from each other.

(9) The display panel according to any one of (2) to (5), furtherincluding

a power control section controlling power supply to the electrode drivesection and the display drive section, and integrated together with theelectrode drive section.

(10) A display panel with a touch detection function, the display panelincluding:

one or more display elements:

one or more touch detection elements; and

a drive section integrated into a chip, and driving the one or moretouch detection elements.

(11) A drive circuit including:

a display drive section driving one or more display elements; and

an electrode drive section integrated into a chip, and applying a drivesignal to one or more drive electrodes that extend in a directionintersecting a direction in which one or more touch detection electrodesextend.

(12) An electronic unit including a display panel with a touch detectionfunction and a control section performing operation control using thedisplay panel, the display panel including:

one or more display elements;

one or more drive electrodes extending in a direction:

an electrode drive section integrated into a chip, and applying a drivesignal to the drive electrodes; and

one or more touch detection electrodes extending in a directionintersecting the direction in which the drive electrodes extend.

The present disclosure contains subject matter related to that disclosedin Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2011-089430 filed in theJapan Patent Office on Apr. 13, 2011, the entire content of which ishereby incorporated by reference.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device comprising: a substrate; aplurality of first electrodes arranged in a first direction on thesubstrate; an insulating layer on the first electrodes; a plurality ofsecond electrodes on the insulating layer; a plurality of signal lineseach of which is coupled with the second electrodes; a drive sectionincluding a touch driver for a touch detection, and a power controlsection to control power supply to the touch driver on the substrate;and a plurality of wires connecting to the first electrodes on thesubstrate, wherein the touch driver is configured to: select a firstpredetermined number of the first electrodes to be driven out of thefirst electrodes; apply a drive signal for the touch detection, via thewires, simultaneously to the first predetermined number of the selectedfirst electrodes adjacent to each other in the first direction; andshift the first predetermined number of the first electrodes to bedriven by a second predetermined number of the first electrodes.
 2. Theelectronic device according to claim 1, further comprising one or moretouch detection electrodes intersecting with the one or more firstelectrodes, wherein a capacitance is formed between each of the firstelectrodes and each of the touch detection electrodes, and a detectionsignal according to the drive signal applied to the first electrodes isoutputted from the touch detection electrode.
 3. The electronic deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the touch driver has a plurality ofscanning modes whose methods of sequentially selecting the electrode tobe driven are different from each other.
 4. The electronic deviceaccording to claim 1, further comprising a display drive section tosupply a pixel signal to the signal lines, and a chip being the drivesection and in which the touch driver, the display drive section, andthe power control section are integrated, wherein the first electrodesare connected via the wires to a chip on the substrate.
 5. Theelectronic device according to claim 4, wherein each of the firstelectrodes have ends in a longitudinal direction of the firstelectrodes, and the wires that connect the first electrodes to the chipon the substrate along a periphery of a display area are disposedbetween, in the longitudinal direction of the first electrodes: one endsof the respective first electrodes; and a gate driver located on thesubstrate along the periphery of the display area.
 6. The electronicdevice according to claim 4, wherein the touch driver applies the drivesignal for the touch detection to the first electrodes, based on adisplay synchronization signal supplied from the display drive section.7. The electronic device according to claim 6, further comprising atouch-detection control section controlling a touch detection operation,wherein the touch-detection control section generates a touch-detectionsynchronization signal based on the display synchronization signal, andthe touch driver applies the drive signal for the touch detection to thefirst electrodes, based on the touch-detection synchronization signal.8. The electronic device according to claim 7, wherein thetouch-detection control section is integrated together with the drivesection.